Spec Martin Memorial Stadium project coming 'down to the wire'

Crews are working seven days a week to finish renovations to Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in time next month for Stetson University's first football game in 57 years.

ANTHONY DEFEOSTAFF WRITER

DELAND — With near daily rainstorms slowing progress, construction crews are working seven days a week to finish renovations to Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in time next month for Stetson University's first football game in 57 years. "It's slowed us down a little bit, but I don't think it's significant," said city Parks and Recreation Director Rick Hall. "It's going to be down to the wire, but everyone is confident." Workers have been making more than $3.1 million in renovations to the municipal stadium since last December. Since then, it's been a race against the clock to prepare the stadium for Aug. 31, when the Stetson Hatters play their first football game since 1956. Though crews are up against a contract completion date of Aug. 19, Hall said they may continue working on the stadium on Aug. 30, or even later. The stadium will be "functional" by Stetson's first game — against Warner University of Lake Wales — even if crews are still finishing cosmetic touches, such as fixing painting or tiles. "Certainly, (the players) can play on the field. That won't be a problem," said City Manager Michael Pleus. The city of DeLand is upgrading the municipal stadium with newly refurbished locker rooms, a training facility, a three-story press box and other improvements. Under a worst-case scenario, work may not be finished on the new press box by Aug. 31 and people who would use it could be seated somewhere else, Pleus said. David Trindade, project manager with The Collage Companies, the Lake Mary firm handling the construction, said he's confident the project will be done in time for kickoff. "We're fighting the weather, but it's going good," he said. "We'll get it done."Workers are mostly focused on interior work at this point, according to Trindade. The crews are working seven days a week, whenever there isn't lightning. As of Monday, Hall said installation of a new $445,700 LED video scoreboard and improvements to the locker rooms are about 80 percent complete. Work on the new three-story press box is about 70 percent complete, he said. Ricky Hazel, assistant athletic director for communications at Stetson, said while the delays are concerning, he's "certainly hopeful" the stadium will be ready for kickoff. "We're taking a group out today to see where we're at," Hazel said Tuesday. Stetson's football players are set to report for preseason camp Aug. 2.